TIAN'AN - After the recent actions by the Kingdom of Vanuku in Jelbania, Foreign Minister Pilarczyk arrived in Tian'an today to negotiate a membership summit between Valruzia and Indrala into the Seleyan Union. This comes mere hours after the Sejm introduced legislation withdrawing all diplomatic ties to the Kingdom, as well as Pilarczyk himself drafting the same legislation for the Seleyan Union. Initially arriving in Tian'an, he held an impromptu press conference amidst a swath of reporters, them being dwarfed by Pilarczyk's incredibly tall stature at 6'8. Speaking at length before the crowd about his purpose there, he had traveled to speak with Foreign Minister Pan Huanyu on aforementioned Indralan membership into the Seleyan Union. Valruzia's own Foreign Minister now has advocated for continental integration more than ever before, and hopes to achieve it before his retirement. While waiting for the meeting with FM Pan, which was left undisclosed to reporters, Pilarczyk took in the colossal skyline of Tian'an as well as enjoyed some of Indrala's culture. When stopped during his tour of a music center, a brief question was posed from popular entertainment magazine, Inside Nowogard, about his opinion of YingPop. "I'm not sure what to make of it, but the kids seem to love it." He also addressed the deep political divide within the nation, between monarchists and republicans. "Whatever political opinions the parties within the Grand Assembly hold, they can surely set them aside and come to an agreement of membership within the Seleyan Union. Indrala boasts the most strongest economy in south Seleya and we would most definitely wish for increased economic cooperation with them."

Website: Today's Top StoryThis is the most viewed story from the Tian'an Times online homepage"Seleyan Union in need of deep reform," says FM Pan ahead of Summit with Valruzian FM Pilarczyk10 November 4418FM Pan speaks to reporters at the Grand Assembly Building

TIAN'AN, Han: Ahead of a bilateral summit with Valruzian Foreign Minister Igor Pilarczyk, in which Indrala's potential membership in the Seleyan Union is a topic of discussion, Foreign Minister Pan Huanyu has said that "the Seleyan Union is in need of deep reform."

"If we are to enter into the Seleyan Union, we must ensure that steps are taken to reform and modernize this institution," said FM Pan. "As it stands, the Seleyan Union has been used as a tool to exert Valruzian soft-power. Indrala is not interested in joining an organization which serves only to further the interests of a foreign power. Indralan interests come first for this government."

FM Pan expressed concern about the centralization of Seleyan Union activities in Valruzia, which has historically been the driving-force behind pan-Seleyan integration.

"Article 6 of the Seleyan Union treaty clearly stipulates that all member states shall 'have the same say in the Union,' and yet there is one nation above all which has had its interests advanced through the institution."

"When did this treaty get drafted in the Union Assembly? The preamble to the treaty itself states that the legislation originates from the Sejm of Valruzia," FM Pan said. "Of course, the State of Indrala, full-heartedly and in the strongest terms imaginable, condemns the Kingdom of Vanuku for their use of nuclear weapons. But I raise this treaty as it points out two areas of deep concern regarding the Seleyan Union which will need to be addressed before Indrala can enter: transparency and democracy."

FM Pan continued to declare that "no agreement" which infringes on Indrala's power to forge its own foreign policies and relationships would be ratified.

"Indrala and Valruzia do not share the same foreign policy objectives across the board. We must reserve the right to be free from mandated policies."

FM Pan's strongly-worded statement comes just hours before his meeting with his Valruzian counterpart. It will be interesting to see how this contributes to the dialogue between Tian'an and Nowogard.

TIAN'AN - Today, speaking from downtown Tian'an at yet another impromptu press conference, this time immediately after the Foreign Minister had sat down with various Indralan business executives who wished to have lunch with him, Igor Pilarczyk directly addressed Foreign Minister Pan's requests for deep reform within the Seleyan Union. "I couldn't agree with him more. Fellow member states of the Seleyan Union have been incredibly inactive in recent years, save for our nation, and I've yet to see a packed Union Assembly for the longest time. Something must be done." What that something was, as Pilarczyk seemingly hinted at, was complete integration of the Seleyan continent into the organization. "I've ran on a campaign for continental integration for years now, and we've seen some progress, and some stonewalling. The organization is split by Aldegar, leading to a divide between North and South, which hurts continental integration, and has cut off previous projects, such as the Seleyan highway system. I made attempts in the past, but... Nothing came out of them." He however sees hope for reinvigorated activity despite Pan's requests, and wishes for Mordusian entry into the SU, as a way of protecting them from Saridan, which has recently faded from international view, outflanked by Kalistan's bush war in the Antanonese Ocean in recent years, and by the nuclear bombing of Deltarian troops in Jelbania. But Pilarczyk hasn't forgotten. "I want to offer Mordusia the greatest protection from their Apartheid neighbor, and that is the fact that they can sleep easy at night, knowing that the SU stands in solidarity behind them."

Dr. Pan ended his conversation, and cordially asked many of his non-essential staff to leave. Minutes later, the Valruzian Foreign Minister entered his office.

"Witamy... w... Yingdala," Dr. Pan struggled out as the two Foreign Ministers engaged in an awkward combined bow and handshake.

The exchange was amiable but tense. The two had spent the year leading up to the summit engaging in press availabilities which cast a shadow over the talks. For Valruzian FM Pilarczyk, who has "ran on a campaign for continental integration for years now," securing the entry of Seleya's strongest economy into the Seleyan Union would be a major political victory. Similarly, easing barriers for international trade, while protecting Indrala's foreign policy objectives, would be a success for Dr. Pan, whose lagging Lotus Party has long advocated for free trade and non-partisan pacifism.

First posing for a few photos, journalists were shuffled out of the office so that the two men would be able to engage in private discussions. After exchanging pleasantries and small talk, Dr. Pan transitioned to the major topics at hand.

"Last year, when I said that the Seleyan Union is in need of deep reform, I meant it," said Dr. Pan. "Regardless of our entry, this institution requires reform if it is to remain relevant."

"The primary problem we find is that the Seleyan Union is simply undeveloped. There is no real legislative process as I have said previously, with most major SU actions coming directly from the Sejm of Valruzia. Valruzian hegemony over the Seleyan Union is troubling to our nation, not because we are against Valruzia, but because in some places, our foreign objectives do not align. Allow me to illustrate my point:

"As it pertains to international security issues, our country has undertaken an non-partisan position. While we have agreed with certain actions of the Northern Council in the past, for instance, we largely do not agree with the Northern Council's interventionist initiatives. Despite having been the founding nation of this agreement, it has become something which we cannot completely endorse.

"As you know, your government is moving forward to ratify the Northern Council treaty (OOC: Postdated; of course Valruzia is now a member), which you are certainly free to do. However, you'll note that Article 5 of the Seleyan Union agreement requires that 'If a nation requests support from another nation in the Union with regards to a war with a nation not in the Union, they must support the nation...'

"In this sense, as Valruzia heads the Seleyan Union, all nations in the SU have effectively joined forces with the Northern Council, as Valruzia can call on SU members to assist in a war undertaken by the Northern Council.

"As I have said before, the State of Indrala reserves the right to put forward its own domestic policy. We do not want to enter an organization which is a puppet of a wider international military alliance."

Igor Pilarczyk walked into the building where Foreign Minister Pan and his associates were speaking to each other in their native Yingdalan, in low voices. Pilarczyk was considerably cool, given the importance of the situation. He was easy to spot, for his 6'8 stature towered easily over any man. The Indralan delegation noticed him and Pan outstretched his hand.

Pilarczyk returned the gesture, and the two engaged in a customary bow. He then posed for a photo op with a swath of reporters once more, and carried on small talk, before shooing them away and getting into the main subject.

Foreign Minister Pan spoke first, giving his desires for deep reform within the Seleyan Union if they were to join, of which Pilarczyk expected, and he gave a concentrated, but observant look whilst he formulated answers in his mind. When Pan had finished, Pilarczyk drew breath from his nose, readjusted himself in his chair, and relaxed his hands, his wedding ring glinting under the fluorescent lights.

"Addressing your concerns for deep reform, I return the same feelings. The reason a Valruzian hegemony exists within the Seleyan Union, frankly, as much as it pains to admit, is overall inactivity from other nations. It's especially telling when merely 3 member states vote on a treaty, typically the important ones. Others? Ignored."

"On your stance for international security, we respect your position and believe that a nation deserves autonomy over whether or not they wish to intervene in major events. We do however support interventionist policies as Valruzian parties have had to adopt the same stance in regards to stability and the preservation of Valruzian democracy. As such, these same notions carried over into our international stance."

"As for Article 5, it seems incredibly impractical for this notion to continue to be upheld. We would support small decentralization in the organization by way of either revising or outright deleting the Article. Nations within this organization deserve to have some degree of autonomy within their own affairs whilst still contributing to their own economies and tackling issues from within their lands."

"We will take the strongest measures possible to ensure that our organization is a place of cooperation and development, not stagnation."

Afternoon, 18 April 4419 (OOC: Postdated, and turned into "afternoon" since I don't know exactly how long it would take to speak )

After listening carefully to his translator, Dr. Pan paused before continuing.

"Minister Pilarczyk, it would seem then that we are of one mind on how the Seleyan Union should approach issues of security and foreign affairs. But if we are to suspend or erase Article 5, would that then not also need to be ratified by what is essentially a non-existent Union Assembly? Technically, as far as my team can tell, there is no amending formula for the Seleyan Union agreement. As such, Article 5 would remain binding for all members, regardless of whatever agreement we reach, no?"

"In examining the agreement in this way, it is not hard to see that the Seleyan Union, by design, is doomed to remain obsolete as it is unable to change and evolve over time. Perhaps it is something to be replaced, rather than reformed?"

Dr. Pan takes a sip from a cup of green tea placed on the coffee table separating the two men.

"Surely we can find a better way to move forward. Perhaps this is through strengthening bilateral relations, and perhaps this is through conceiving of a truly fresh and unique supranational institution."

Pilarczyk watched Pan as his translator relayed his statements back into his native Valruzian, and swallowed hard. Total removal? A lot of improvements to fellow states have been achieved through the Seleyan Union but Pilarczyk was well aware of the fact that it was incredibly outdated. He had to choose his next words carefully, and so he tightened his folded hands and addressed Foreign Minister Pan straight:

"Foreign Minister, I completely agree. The Seleyan Union, as much as we've tried to revitalize and revive it, is dead. It should be dissolved and something new will take its place. Perhaps an economic alliance. Bringing together some of the most strongest economies in east Terra together."

"It can be said that while we did not achieve anything in regards to your membership in the Seleyan Union, we achieved something far more greater than that. The path towards something new. Whether it be by strengthened bilateral relations or an aforementioned economic alliance, it can come to fruition in due time."

He unclasped his hands, his palms soaked with sweat, though he hid this from Foreign Minister Pan, and got up.

"I'll travel to the Union Assembly in Baltusia and start a vote of no confidence. Let us work together to build a new future for Seleya."

Pilarczyk gave Pan a warm smile and outstretched his hand. The Indralan Foreign Minister did likewise. They bowed and left the office to a mob of reporters, as usual, photographing their every move. Before splitting away from each other, Pilarczyk turned to Pan and calmly said "Zàijiàn". Pan smiled once more and the two men went their separate ways.

The Market is a nationally-published daily economic newspaper centred in Tian'an. While the paper remains generally non-partisan, critics have observed a tendency for the paper to publish articles which generally support classically liberal economic policies and the established economic order of Indrala.FM Pan Huanyu: Seleyan Union is "a dead-man walking."19 April 4419 (OOC: Postdated)FM Pan seated during an international press briefing

TIAN'AN, Han Province: Following a short but productive meeting with Valruzian Foreign Minister Igor Pilarczyk, the Seleyan Union is "a dead-man walking" according to Foreign Minister Pan Huanyu. Speaking to a gathering of international journalists, Dr. Pan shared some details of the Summit, which was originally planned to encourage Indralan membership in the Seleyan Union.

"We came to an informal agreement that the Seleyan Union is unable to change and will forever remain a fossil of what it could have been," said Dr. Pan. "It has been shedding members for years now over it's inability to evolve. Kalistan is the most recent example of a nation unwilling to endorse Article 5 of the SU Agreement, and thus unwilling to participate in the Seleyan Union project."

FM Pan said of his meeting with his Valruzian counterpart, however, that "there is great optimism for the future."

"In looking how to best encourage cultural and economic exchange across Seleya, Mr. Pilarczyk and I came to an agreement that there must be a new and innovative institution which will not fall to stagnancy. Various conversations will occur in the coming months and potentially years between our two nations and any other shareholding nation on how best to move forward. The Seleyan Union is imploding. For the sake of economic stability on this continent, we must work fast."

FM Pan said that Indralan foreign policy objectives and precedents established through the Dai Paper will ensure that any such agreement is not a military coalition, but rather an "institution" which will facilitate "economic, academic and cultural exchange."